Julia Roberts' shadow is long, and therefore, one of the main affected parties has been her brother Eric, who, at 68, has opened up to talk about the family wounds that still remain open. He reveals everything in his recently published biographyRunaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far and on the podcast Inside of You. The Oscar-nominated actor for Runaway Train (1986) not only talks about Julia but also about the strained relationship he has with his daughter Emma Roberts (33), one of the stars of Scream Queens and American Horror Story.
"Probably the most complicated moment of my life is losing the relationship with my daughter... It's not pain that I feel, but sadness for what are most likely misunderstandings that will last forever. We are human," the actor states on the podcast, referring to his only daughter, born from his relationship with Kelly Cunningham, with whom he broke up shortly after Emma's birth in February 1991. The separation led to a bitter court battle over who would have custody of the child.
During that time, Eric was unleashed and out of control. He had earned so much money that he bought a penthouse in the elite Upper East Side of Manhattan and a house in Greenwich, a city in the state of Connecticut with one of the highest incomes in the United States. However, he would soon lose the properties due to his cocaine addiction. In 1992, Eric married Eliza Garrett, and three years later, he was arrested for domestic violence, which influenced the decision not to grant him custody. From that moment on, the friction that had always bred affection disappeared.
Watching his daughter grow up, especially becoming a mother, has made him reflect on his past mistakes. "I began to accept that part of me with the birth of my grandson. And since then, it reminds me of what I don't have." Emma had her only child, Rhodes, almost 4 years old, from her relationship with singer and actor Garrett Hedlund (40), from whom she separated in early 2022. Since last summer, she has been engaged to actor Cody John (35).
Parallel to his rise and fall, Julia Roberts was trying to make a name for herself as an actress, so Eric did not hesitate to claim that she was taking advantage of his name to reach the top. He stated this in Vanity Fair in 2018: "If it weren't for me, there wouldn't be a Julia Roberts as a celebrity, as an actress, and I am very proud of that." In his biography, he retracts: "Not only is that regrettable, but it is also not true. And I hope Julie accepts this more public apology. It was foolish to say that." In 1990, Julia became a star thanks to Pretty Woman.
"It wouldn't surprise me if they suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder because it was dangerous to be around me. Lisa [his other sister] and Julia needed love and protection, but instead, they received fear and uncertainty," says Eric, who is currently a participant on Dancing with the Stars.